Politics is dirty. In order to get to the level where one is in the House or the Senate, so many deals have to be made, that virtually everyone is compromised by the time they get there. It's not the politicians who are at fault, but the people who elect them. I am so discouraged by my fellow citizens. Does anyone study history? Does anyone know anything about civic?
I taught history and government (which is sort of civics). I'm not sure these are even required courses anymore.
But what do we do? Give up? Stop voting? Stop caring? We choose the best horse we can in each race and hold our noses. Is it very different in the UK, or does everyone have to compromise to get to a serious post?
I think the politics in the UK is pretty broken but in very different ways. There's a lot more backstabbing and sycophancy, as each pathetic party and leader bends with the wind without a single conviction to speak of in order to stay in power. Right wing parties can and do float far left if they think it'll give them a few more months without being fired or elected out, and vice versa. It's all about immediate short-term gains, while throwing the long term under the bus.
Compromise is one thing, but this is on another level.
Coalitions are also very likely meaning a third small party gets an exaggerated influence whether or not it lines up ideologically with the main party or any of the citizens. Another kind of compromise that just doesn't work very well usually, and encourages short term vision.
So now, we're all enjoying the long term consequences of that, which is crippling for everyone in all regards.
I suppose this is fairly similar across European democracies but the main difference is that the UK's literally has no idea what they're doing since Brexit left them without Brussels to do everything for them lol.
But yeah, I guess it's hard to compare with US politics, despite how the UK seems to want to become a mini shadow of the US in every regard
Yup, you are right about politicians being compromised, including republicans. I say that as a GOP voter. Nearly all politicians are compromised regardless of the party, which if you ask me is why things are so polarized in America right now.